Why champagne could be a better investment than gold and the S&P 500

Loading player...
GUEST – Roland Peens, director and business development manager at Wine Cellar

Champagne could be a better investment than gold and the S&P 500, having outperformed both in 2022.

The London Internation Vintners Exchange (Liv-Ex) reported that, between January and September 2022, a case of all-Chardonnay 2012 Salon Le Mesnil soared 232%, from £3,800 to £12,600.

The Liv-Ex Champagne 50 Index tracks the price performance for recent vintages of a dozen top brands. This index outperformed gold, the FTSE, and the S&P 500.

The Champagne 50 was up 21.6% last year and, for five consecutive months, was the best-performing sub-index of the Liv-Ex 1000. The number of Champagnes traded also rose 13.5% in 2022.

While the prices have since cooled down and even decreased, there is still hope for the Champagne market in 2023.

Tom Gearing, chief executive officer of Cult Wines,
told the Economic Times that he’s positive but cautious about the Champagne market for 2023.
11 Apr 2023 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA Payments Behind the Fifa Passion

Visa’s data reveals how FIFA World Cup 2026™ shifted SA spending — from a 72% surge in sports recreation to 76% spikes in live screening ahead of Bafana’s Round of 32 match. Zeyad Davids, Vice President, Head of Marketing Services, Central Europe, Middle East & Africa at Visa explains how…
30 Jul 1PM 11 min

Life vs Funeral: The Real Difference

South Africa’s insurance gap has widened to R50.4 trillion. Capitec Life CEO Deepesh Desai explains why funeral cover dominates, why life cover lags at 19%, and how Capitec wants to change the national conversation.
30 Jul 1PM 11 min

Brand SA data shows South Africa’s Reputation Turning a Corner

South Africa scores 3.70 among audiences who know it best — placing the nation second in the world and above the Love Mark threshold. Brand SA’s Olebogeng Mabala unpacks the 0.87‑point gap between familiar and unfamiliar audiences, the economic stakes of reputation, and why “South Africa converts” once people experience…
30 Jul 12PM 19 min

PIC At War With Itself: Governance and the health of Pensions

The Public Investment Corporation—custodian of more than R3 trillion in public money and the retirement savings of millions of South Africans—is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. A whistleblower complaint, the controversial Lanseria Airport deal, the precautionary suspension of CEO Patrick Dlamini, board resignations and FSCA…
29 Jul 2PM 10 min

Africa’s Delivery Generation: Youth Demand Jobs & Clean Government

The African Youth Survey 2026 reveals a rising generation more optimistic than at any time since the pandemic — but demanding delivery, accountability and economic dignity. Commissioner Ivor Ichikowitz unpacks why optimism has surged, why cost‑of‑living pressures dominate youth concerns, and why young Africans support democracy but reject Western models…
29 Jul 1PM 12 min